Natika33
Active Member
Dare I ask how the roof faired in the ice storm? <ducks>
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- Thread starter hawc
- Start date
Johnny Au
Superstar
Just a leak here and there, but Doug Ford says that it is enough to shut the entire facility down.
He likes to throw babies out with bathwater.
nightstreak
Active Member
This is sad to see as I have fond memories there from my childhood, and I preface this by saying I despise Doug Ford and his bullying of Toronto and blatant lying to vacate this building and I hate the corruption going on with the spa, but I dare say that I'm happy with the Science Centre going to Ontario Place, giving it a raison d'être that it hasn't had since the 90s.
If the stupidly expensive taxpayer funded parking lot at Exhibition Place accounts for school buses, then the new Science Centre will routinely activate and revitalize the Pods and the Cinesphere and by extension the public Ontario Place parks surrounding it.
As far as we've seen, there's no risk of the Moriyama & Teshima building on the Don Valley being torn down; it's owned by the City of Toronto and will make a fine community centre for the growing neighbourhoods around there that will only get bolstered once the subway is built. Direct Section 37 funding from nearby developments to repairing the roof and installing a library, a fitness centre and other community centre amenities. Voila, free public access to this beautiful building that gets a much needed restoration and new space for the community.
I'm optimistic where all the pieces are going to land once the dust settles. I'lll learn to forget the stink of corruption, made more bearable after Ford is gone — not someone I'll give a moment's thought about while enjoying a revitalized Ontario Place.
hawc
Senior Member
I hope you're right.
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hawc
Senior Member
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UtakataNoAnnex
Senior Member
I think Ford may have had a miserable childhood experience with both here and with OP, unlike most of us. Hence, under his governance of both facilities saw their poorly thought out demise . /sigh
nightstreak
Active Member
I came across this diagram showing the new Science Centre with an underground tunnel to the bridge that leads to the pods.
I haven't seen any renderings or more detailed architectural drawings of the new Ontario Science Centre. Does it even exist? Will construction occur at the same time as the spa since they seem to be interconnected?
I haven't seen any renderings or more detailed architectural drawings of the new Ontario Science Centre. Does it even exist? Will construction occur at the same time as the spa since they seem to be interconnected?
hawc
Senior Member
My kids will be married with their own kids by the time this is reality.
nightstreak
Active Member
I appreciate the cynicism, the unnecessary secrecy in developing this behind closed doors breeds a sense of corruption, but the pods and the Cinesphere are well into their refurbishment as we speak. I very much doubt that Ford's cigar lounge buddies at Therme are going to accept opening their brand new spa in 2028 next to a derelict lot or construction site. I believe this will open on time with the spa, no (public) expenses spared, given the corrupt nature of the spa deal to funnel public money to private interests.
If the spa starts construction later this year or early next, then I'm guessing we'll see plans for the Science Centre emerge in the coming months. It speaks volumes that we have no idea who is even working on it. Is this Diamond & Schmitt like the spa? Are they being developed together? They share land side infrastructure before splitting into their own parcels so there must be some coordination.
rdaner
Senior Member
^Thanks! Am I correct in thinking Snöhetta has been given this?
hawc
Senior Member
Snøhetta is part of the team shortlisted, along with Hariri Pontarini Architects and their partners, Amico, Sacyr, and John Laing. Expected to open in 2029.
nightstreak
Active Member
Snøhetta would be a win for this site. Suddenly, I'm excited for the Science Centre's new home.
I went through the Provincial website for Ontario Place and found that construction is set to begin this year. The site seems up-to-date with references to current works on Pod and Cinesphere restoration so 2025 is probably the projected commencement.
UtakataNoAnnex
Senior Member
/sigh
ChesterCopperpot
Senior Member
Johnny Au
Superstar
Doug Ford is planning to make the new Ontario Science Centre become another EPCOT, just with old buildings, Zeerust in fact. Oh, and it would be a second-rate EPCOT.
tvtropes.org
Zeerust - TV Tropes
Something — be it a piece of technology, character design, outfit, vehicle or architecture — used to be someone's idea of futuristic. Nowadays it has, ironically, acquired a quaint sort of datedness to it: inevitably, it will be more …
tvtropes.org